Hazards of Chlorine

Exercising competitive swimmers absorb toxic levels of chlorine products in the course of a training session.

Training two or more times a day will not allow the toxins to be completely cleared from the body in most swimmers.

Children inhale more air per unit of body weight than adults.

Young children absorb relatively greater amounts of toxins than older swimmers and therefore, are at greater risk.

In hyper-chlorinated pools, even dental enamel can be eroded because of the increased acidity in swimmers in training.

Exercise intensity and number of sessions increase the toxic concentrations in competitive swimmers.

Greater toxin absorption occurs through the skin than through breathing. However, the breathing action alone is sufficient to cause hypersensitivity and “asthma-like” respiratory conditions in at least some swimmers.

Over chlorination is particularly hazardous to the health of swimmers.